JOYCE: 12 NEWS INVESTIGATES STIMULUS CHECKS SENT TO PEOPLE WHO’VE PASSED AWAY. 12 NEWS HEARD FROM SEVERAL VIEWERS, LIKE STEVEN SAARI OF WEST ALLIS, WHO RECEIVED A $1200 STIMULUS PAYMENT ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER WHO DIED IN 2018 . HE WONDERED WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH THE MONEY. >> DUMBFOUNDED, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RETURN IT WHERE I DON'T GET INTO ANY TROUBLE YOU KNOW? JOYCE: JUST TODAY, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAID PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED A STIMULUS PAYMENT ON BEHALF SOMEONE WHO DIED SHOULD RETURN THE MONEY, WRITING "VOID" ON THE CHECK AND MAILING IT BACK TO THE IRS. THEY SAID IF YOU’VE ALREADY CASHED THE CHECK OR IF THE MONEY CAME VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT, IMMEDIATELY SEND A PERSONAL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO THE IRS. WE HAVE A LINK TO THE IRS WEBSIT

Federal stimulus payments sent to people who have died must be returned, the Internal Revenue Service said in new guidance released Wednesday.In a rush to get stimulus payments out as fast as possible, some of the money was sent to people who had died but had filed taxes within the past two years -- even as millions continue to wait for their payments to arrive.The IRS has to cross-check with another federal agency to get a list of the deceased.It was previously unclear whether family members could keep the money, but the IRS now says the full payment must be returned, unless the deceased was married and filed tax returns jointly with a spouse who is still alive. In that case only the portion of the payment belonging to the deceased needs to be returned, the agency said. If the couple received $2,400, for example, $1,200 needs to be sent back.If a check was received, it must be mailed back to the Treasury Department. If the check was cashed or the payment was directly deposited into the bank account, the IRS is asking people to send a personal check or money order. Further instructions were posted online by the IRS.The IRS started by sending money to those who had already filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return. The IRS has sent more than 122 million payments, for a total of $207 billion, since April 11.The agency also clarified on Wednesday that other people who may have received a payment but are ineligible, including those who are incarcerated, must also return the money.Eligibility is largely based on income, and it excludes individuals earning more than $99,000, head of household filers with one child who earn more than $136,500, and married couples without children earning more than $198,000.Families earning a little more may still be eligible if they have children. The phase-out limit depends on how many children they have. For a typical family of four, the amount is completely phased out for those with incomes exceeding $218,000.Those who can be claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, like many college students, are also ineligible for the payments, as well as undocumented immigrants who don't have Social Security numbers.Payments are worth up to $1,200 for individuals, and $2,400 for couples -- plus $500 per dependent.

Federal stimulus payments sent to people who have died must be returned, the Internal Revenue Service said in new guidance released Wednesday.

In a rush to get stimulus payments out as fast as possible, some of the money was sent to people who had died but had filed taxes within the past two years -- even as millions continue to wait for their payments to arrive.

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The IRS has to cross-check with another federal agency to get a list of the deceased.

It was previously unclear whether family members could keep the money, but the IRS now says the full payment must be returned, unless the deceased was married and filed tax returns jointly with a spouse who is still alive. In that case only the portion of the payment belonging to the deceased needs to be returned, the agency said. If the couple received $2,400, for example, $1,200 needs to be sent back.

If a check was received, it must be mailed back to the Treasury Department. If the check was cashed or the payment was directly deposited into the bank account, the IRS is asking people to send a personal check or money order. Further instructions were posted online by the IRS.

The IRS started by sending money to those who had already filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return. The IRS has sent more than 122 million payments, for a total of $207 billion, since April 11.

The agency also clarified on Wednesday that other people who may have received a payment but are ineligible, including those who are incarcerated, must also return the money.

Eligibility is largely based on income, and it excludes individuals earning more than $99,000, head of household filers with one child who earn more than $136,500, and married couples without children earning more than $198,000.

Families earning a little more may still be eligible if they have children. The phase-out limit depends on how many children they have. For a typical family of four, the amount is completely phased out for those with incomes exceeding $218,000.

Those who can be claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, like many college students, are also ineligible for the payments, as well as undocumented immigrants who don't have Social Security numbers.

Payments are worth up to $1,200 for individuals, and $2,400 for couples -- plus $500 per dependent.